1The Gift of a Family chapter 22. A Reversal of Fortunes.
So far Zoev has been the only one to take up my challenge, Jack's Revenge. I had a lot of fun reading it and I recommend you all check it out, and maybe write one of your own, because there are so many fun ways Jack and Daniel could get revenge on Parker. Check it out at twisting the hellmouth dot com under challenges and FireDragon. (my pen name there)
Sorry that it took me so long. I am still hurting but I have gotten a lot better than I was. Also, I have written this chapter several times. I think I finally got it mostly right. Thanks to Ivy for the help. Also Thanks to Sulien for all the help she has given me. Thank you for reading it, especially those who review and recommend it. Thank you.
Sadly, I need a new beta reader to help with grammar and punctuation etc. The pay doesn't exist but you do get to see the new chapters first.
The explosion shook the earth beneath her feet just as she was launching another attack on Drusilla, Buffy lost her balance and fell. Drusilla took this opportunity and fled.
Looking up Buffy silently cursed, Drusilla had escaped. She was probably already on her way out of town. If it hadn't been for that explosion she would have had her. Fear filled her heart as she considered that the explosion meant that the vampires were awake already what if they escaped the explosion? Jack and Daniel could be vamp chow even now.
"Faith?" She called out to Faith who was finishing off the remaining vampires.
"Go ahead, I've got the clean up here." She shouted back just as she dusted another vampire.
Buffy went. She ran as quickly as she could the site that greeted her might have made her laugh, if she didn't recognize one of the vampires that was desperately rolling on the ground to put out the flames before he was consumed by them. The Dragon, the vampire that might have changed her into something not human, was alive again, and looking decidedly pissed off now that the flames were out he started walking toward where Jack, Daniel and the others had taken shelter behind the body of the hell beast.
"Stop!" She shouted out and was about to launch into an attack on said vampire when she sensed something that made her freeze in horror. Her stomach turned over and she fell to her knees in shock.
"No." She whispered. "No, no, no, please no!" She cried out as she crumbled into the fetal position and started rocking. She shook her head denying the sense that filled her.
All the vampires, the initiative soldiers, Jack and Daniel all stood looking at her wondering what was going on.
Buffy was nearly catatonic as she continued to shake her head denying what she could still feel and knew was real. She could feel her Sire as he walked toward her, and her feelings toward him grew with each step he took toward her.
How she hated and loved him. She wanted to kill him, beyond he desire to kill any other vampire, he had taken her humanity from her and before she turned completely she wanted to take him down. Yet, the part that felt the connection with him, loved him, she had never realized quite what Spike was willing to do when he offered to kill Drusilla for her. Now she had a better idea. She would be able to kill him it wouldn't be nearly as painful as killing the real dragon had, that little bit of heaven. She really didn't want to though and she wasn't sure if she would be able to once he got closer to her. She could feel her mind slowly shutting down as it tried to protect her from the knowledge that she must really be turning into a vampire.
'Hey Death Breath!" Jacks voice shouted out, it broke through the wall of fuzz she was building up around herself to protect her mind from what was happening to her. "Stay away from my daughter."
The Dragon turned back to look at the meddlesome human and froze in shock. Jack stood with hate and death in his eyes aiming a rocket launcher at the vampire that stood not far from his daughter. He didn't have time to blink or move before Jack pulled the trigger and blasted the Dragon back to hell. The remaining vampires who had survived the blast to witness their leaders death raced off into the night, they were alive again, and there was easier prey to be found.
Daniel and Jack raced to Buffy's side concern and worry marring their brows. She smiled at Jack though she still seemed far away.
"Thanks Jack. I really didn't want to have to kill him." She stated, but could feel the fuzz coming back. She had a father again, who seemed to genuinely want to get to know her even though she was the Slayer. Now that too was being taken away from her.
No I can't let it happen, I can't become a vampire. Jack and Daniel would probably be the first ones I would go after. There has to be some way to stop this. Her mind was screaming.
"What is wrong with her?" Jack asked to no one in particular.
"I have no idea. She seemed to be too far away for them to have done anything to her." Daniel answered.
"Daniel does this look normal to you?" Jack growled.
"Woah, what the hell happened to B?" Faiths voice asked breaking through to Buffy's mind and she suddenly had an answer to her problem.
"Faith?" Buffy turned to look at her sister slayer and smiled.
"B, what is wrong with you?" Faith asked. In reply Buffy threw her knife to Faith who caught it and looked back to Buffy in curious wonder.
"Your turn." Buffy stated simply before she leaped from Jack and Daniels arms and started attacking Faith with her bare hands.
"Buffy? What the hell?" Faith shouted as she launched into her defense.
"Buffy?" Jack and Daniel cried out at the same time they went to intervene when the soldiers from the initiative held them back.
"Trust me you do not want to get mixed up in a fight between slayers." Abrams stated as he watched the two girls kick and punch out at each other.
Faith tucked the knife into her waistband as she blocked a crazed Buffy from attacking her. For a moment she was back on that roof, waiting for her death. Buffy was a better fighter, she did have more experience after all. She knew she couldn't take her. Too much time locked in a cage had a tendency to slow one down after all. Still it was surprisingly easy to hold Buffy off. It was almost like Buffy wasn't really even trying.
"Dammit Faith, use the knife." Buffy shouted. Then it clicked. Faith wasn't on the roof waiting for Buffy to plunge the knife into her, no Buffy was the one who was waiting for death this time.
"What? Buffy have you lost your mind?" Faith asked as she threw the knife away toward the watching soldiers. No way. Even if she had gone crazy Buffy was her sister. She was the only family Faith had or would willingly claim. Everything they had been through together, molded them into sisters, and enemies. They shared a bond that few would ever understand. There was no way Faith was going to do that.
"Dammit Faith, I don't know how much time we have. You have to, you can't let me turn." Tears burned in her eyes, but Buffy knew she had to be strong and face her end with dignity.
Faith suddenly froze in shock Buffy got in two punches before she realized that Faith wasn't fighting back anymore.
Faith stood frozen in shock and horror. It was impossible, Buffy was the best, she could walk into hell and come back out fighting all the way. Faith loved her and hated her and couldn't believe a word she was hearing. "What the hell B? You would never let a vamp force you to drink." Faith yelled as she started pacing before her. She was angry, how could Buffy let this happen? She was too good, she was what Faith wanted to surpass. She was the shining one who could do anything, she was the only one left in this World who had faith in her. Faith couldn't loose Buffy now. "Well I am not doing it, No way in Hell. We will just call Red and have her curse you the same as your boy."
"And if I ever get a moment of happiness after that? Faith we can't risk it, I am a slayer if you add the powers of a vamp to that just imagine what would happen, you won't be able to stop me."
"Excuse me," Daniel asked, "But what is going on?" He nearly shouted.
"That is what I want to know." Jack hissed in frustration.
"Drusilla, she said that...when the Dragon was draining me on that seal some of his blood was mixed in with all the other blood and it got in the cuts on my back. She said I was now a member of the house of Aurelius. I didn't believe her at first but I could feel the Dragon, she was right I am a part of her family now."
"I thought it took more than a little blood to turn someone." Daniel asked remembering his reading from earlier.
"Yeah B, your man has a point. But, even if he didn't, I am not going to kill you until I don't have any other choice."
"You honestly think you can stop me once I am turned?" Buffy asked knowing full well she wouldn't be able to stop her.
"I said I wouldn't kill you, not that I won't chain you up." Faith answered.
Buffy cocked her head as she considered it. "Do you promise to not let me kill anybody? It might work if the chains are strong enough."
"Baby, I have the best chains." Faith winked at her.
"FAITH!" Buffy cried out as she turned a cherry red and glanced at her father and Daniel. Jack's mouth was opening and closing like a fish, and Daniel was even more red than Buffy.
"Relax B, it's not as bad as you think. Ok, except for that one time with that sexy vamp, I had some fun with him before I dusted him, but trust me he had a very happy last few hours."
"Faith we really don't need the details." Buffy stated after she tackled her and covered her mouth with her hands.
"Well B, I guess we should go tie you up." She stated as soon as Buffy took her hand away from her mouth. "Angel and Spike will be sorry they missed this."
"Faith I am begging you, in case these are my last hours please stop embarrassing me. Especially in front of my Father and Daniel."
Please review. I know I haven't been good at responding lately but it helps so much!